A bipartisan group composed of members of the academe and former officials in Taiwan yesterday called for the replacement of the one China policy with a “greater one China concept,” as well as the establishment of a “limited international legal entity” to manage cross-strait affairs.

Led by former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairman Shih Ming-teh, the group consists of former Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) Chairman Hung Chih-chang, former SEF Vice Chairman Chiao Jen-ho, former National Security Council Secretary-General Su Chi, former Foreign Minister Cheng Chien-jen, former Mainland Affairs Council Minister Chen Ming-tong and Tamkang University Graduate Institute of Chinese Studies Director Chang Wu-ueh.

The bipartisan group explained that the greater one China concept accurately reflects reality by allowing for the fact that the Republic of China (R.O.C.) and the People's Republic of China (PRC) have existed concurrently since 1949, and that the two governments have moved from a state of war to a phase of separate jurisdiction.

The bipartisan group further explained that the term “one China” has in effect become a pronoun for the PRC, which not only fails to describe reality, but also has become increasingly hard for the 23 million people of the R.O.C. to accept.

The greater one China framework will pave way for the establishment of a limited international legal entity between the R.O.C. and the PRC, which will handle cross-strait affairs, the bipartisan group said.

Under the proposed framework, both sides of the strait should mutually pledge not to use force against one another and refrain from signing any kind of military agreement with other countries that would be detrimental the other side, the bipartisan group said, adding that under the proposed framework both sides should have the right to participate in international organizations such as the United Nations and establish diplomatic ties with other countries.

The Kuomintang (KMT) yesterday said its policy was to maintain the three "nos" of no reunification, no independence and no use of force, and to push for peaceful cross-strait development under the “1992 consensus” and the principle of one China with different interpretations.

KMT spokesman Charles Chen said that regardless of whether people agree with his party's stance or not, the KMT views dialogue as a good thing.

DPP spokesman Lin Chun-hsien said that his party respects diverse social opinions.

A diverse society has different opinions, which the DPP respects, Lin said. “(However), the future of Taiwan is to be decided by the 23 million people of Taiwan. This is the broadest consensus within our society.”